Just call me crazy, but watching my brother installing Linux as well my cousin’s will to install Linux as well made me recall the days I used and enjoyed open source. I bought a Mac to get rid of Windows and yet get to use Photoshop, World of Warcraft, Traktor DJ Studio and Logic; those were the main reasons.

I love my Mac, that’s certain. However, there are some things Linux (I’ll assume everyone knows Ubuntu, you can choose Fedora or even openSUSE as well) differ from Mac OS X:

1. Linux is free. Mac OS X is not. And you say: “Great: I knew this would be the first one to come up…” Well, many people think on price over luxury in what concerns hardware & software. In fact, many people don’t get the difference between a 1000$ and a 2000$ machine. I know this because I’ve seen it.
2. Concerning gaming and considering most games are run under Windows, software to interpret Windows API is free and more reliable if open source. CrossOver Mac is not free and I’ve had troubles trying it because of dependencies (Linux, especially Debian-based distros, handles dependencies flawlessly). And honestly, I don’t see any other replacement for it.
3. Although Mac OS X is a very stable and easy to use, IMO i think it’s too simplistic sometimes. It’s outstanding for the majority of people… but I could use a little extra.
4. Linux has this huge repository of applications, utilities, libraries, you name it. Everything is there, you don’t need anything else (almost). As for Mac, you just have to Google for its apps.
5. Although just an opinion, I enjoy GNOME’s GUI a little bit more than Mac’s. It’s simple and easy to understand, unlike Mac’s for most people. Although I’m used to it now, the learning curve is much steeper than GNOME’s.

Most people say with quite a sense that Mac OS X is just a little more than another Linux distribution… after all, Mac OS X is based upon UNIX. Mac is not another Linux distribution, and well, let me say it’s a matter of experience. I have tried Windows, I hated it and switched to many Linux distros; My favourite? Ubuntu. Lastly I wanted this Macbook for my design needs. Only thing left: BSD. BSD users, don’t take this bad, but I’m not going to count with it to evaluate, let’s put it in the open source basket along with Linux.

My conclusion? I enjoy both Ubuntu and Mac. Each one has their strengths and each one has their weaknesses. Of course I am to stay with Mac because I’m a web designer, I should work on a Mac. But for you Windows users, make your move: stop being robbed and framed, get yourself an Ubuntu copy or any other GNU/Linux system out there that’s free.

2 comments so far

1. José Campos wrote on May 26, 2008:

   That’s what im talking about fool, great site homie !

2. PedroAlex wrote on June 10, 2008:

   I feel as you regarding the open source. Among other stuff the reason I don’t leave windows for good is my daily half an hour gaming which Linux lakes. Buy yet it as it days counting down since EA announced a release of some game to Linux! Yuppieee!

Post yourself a comment